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Link-Up (Qld) ABORIGINAL CORPORATIONLink-UpNEWSLETTER

Volume 12 December 2014 - February 2015

(Qld) ABORIGINAL CORPORATION ®

Still Bringing Them Home

DISCLAIMER: Whilst every effort has been made to respect cultural traditions, Indigenous readers are advised that this publication may contain images of people who are deceased.

Link-Up Link-Up(Qld) ABORIGINAL CORPORATION (Qld) ABORIGINAL CORPORATION

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In this issue: Chairperson - Sam Watson CEO - Patricia Conlon

h Chairman Sam Watson 2 h CEO Patricia Conlon 3 h The 7th Apology Anniversary 4 h Can’t Wait To Meet My Boy 6 h The Marie Reunion Story 7 h Back To Country 8 h Jason’s Journey 10 h Invasion Day 11 h Dundalli Remembrance 12 h Pledge To Stolen Wages Justice 14 h Link-Up (Qld) Regionals Update 15 h Clients’ Christmas Party 16

h Thanks Lenore 17 h Lost Mother (Poem) 17 h Link-Up (Qld) Staff Movements 18 h Holy Cross Industrial School 18

Front Cover:

Ms Leeanne Enoch MP with Link-Up (Qld) Board Director, Willie Prince at Link-Up (Qld)’s Apology celebrations at Jagera Arts Hall. (Story on Page 4)

Welcome to this Edition of Link-Up (Qld) Newsletter.

This edition features the Apology Day Event which was held at Jagera Arts Hall. Link-Up (Qld) is pleased to host this day each year because it is important that there be a moment when the entire nation comes together to acknowledge the

pain, tragedy and suffering caused by past government policies.

We are pleased to see our Elders and people from across our community enjoying this day and to look back on those days when our children, grandchildren and young people were forcibly removed and taken away to these terrible institutions, fully removed from their family, their culture and then brought up with complete indifference about who they were and where they came from.

Our people are resilient though, the grace and humility of our women and the strength of our men is testament that our culture is strong and survives.

Link-Up staff are committed to their work with our Stolen Generations and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff for their dedication and commitment – this absolutely shone through at this event. Thank you Team.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ms Leeanne Enoch on her historic success by becoming the first Indigenous woman to be elected to the Queensland Parliament as the Member for Algester. What an achievement.

We are absolutely proud of Leeanne’s achievement and thrilled that she was able to attend the Apology Day Event as a Guest Speaker, reflecting on her life on her life’s journey, her family and of course her home Stradbroke Island. Importantly, Leeanne acknowledged our Elders and Stolen Generations clients and their journeys and the importance of our gathering.

Councillor Helen Abrahams, a staunch support of Link-Up (Qld) never misses the Apology Event. Thank you Councillor for your ongoing support, your kind words and acknowledgement of our Stolen Generations. We appreciate you taking time out to be visible at this important gathering each year.

Link-Up (Qld)’s Annual General Meeting was held in November 2014. Congratulations to Director Willie Prince for being re-elected unopposed. Ken Murphy, Tracey Pickwick, Lynelle (Minnie) Mace (Bribie Island) and Lionel Quartermaine (Cairns) were also elected. Directors are elected from Queensland in two areas Zone A is Greater Brisbane and Zone B is the remainder of the State. Thank you to those Directors for putting their hands up – we have a great team and I look for to working with you all.

Link-Up (Qld) is, like most other organisations waiting patiently to hear from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet about funding under the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS). We have important work to do.

“the work of Link-Up is not hard work, it is heart work”

a quote from a staff member.

and from a client,

“I am very glad to have a place like Link-Up;I am very glad to have a respite for 10 minutes from

the rest of the world”

Once again, thank you to our staff at Link-Up for their professionalism in supporting our client’s journeys and to our CEO, Pat Conlon for her leadership.

Welcome to the first edition of Link-Up (Qld) Newsletter for 2015.

Staff are back on deck after a well earned holiday break. There has been a turnover of staff in recent times. We wish those staff who have served our clients with respect and dignity well in their new endeavours and we welcome new staff members into the Link-Up (Qld) family. They have hit the ground running in terms of their roles as Counsellors, Caseworkers and in our administration teams.

18 reunions have been achieved since July 2014, staff have worked hard to achieve this number in just 7 months. Our monthly client support group meetings are going well. It is always a pleasure to share the morning with our Elders and clients group. The Board has scheduled a regional board meeting at the end of March, we are looking forward to working with them to review the Strategic Plan which will set the direction and key priorities for Link-Up (Qld) going forward. This meeting will also be an opportunity to meet with clients and key stakeholders in the region.

We will continue to work collaboratively with all key stakeholders to support the healing journeys of our clients.

The National Apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on 13 February 2008 was a significant day in Australian history, and one that was long overdue. We are pleased to host each year Apology Day as an opportunity for our people to come together, to reflect, to share and to remember those who were removed from their families. The event was a huge success held at Jagera Arts Hall in February 2015.

We would like to acknowledge the National Stolen Generation Alliance and the Healing Foundation for the support and contribution to this event.

Sam WatsonPatricia Conlon

2015 Board of Directors: (l-r) Willie Prince, Sam Watson, Tracy Pickwick, Lionel Quartermaine, Lynelle Mace and Ken Murphy


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The 7th Apology AnniversaryLink-Up (Qld) hosted its annual Apology Anniversary celebrations at Jagera Arts Hall this year. The event was very well attended with over 150 people turning out for the day.

Chairperson Sam Watson welcomed everybody and gave an acknowledgement to country. Our CEO Pat Conlon was MC for the Event.

The event commenced with kids from the Murri School doing traditional dances, this event being the first of the year for them. Jeffrey Link highlighted the importance of the kids attendance at school and learning, that he could have picked any of the kids from the school to perform today, as they all have strong cultural knowledge. The Elders were proud of the kids and their performance, proud that our culture is alive and well in these children – our future.

Link-Up (Qld) was thrilled to have Ms Leeanne Enoch, the newly elected Member for Algester and the first Indigenous woman to be elected to the Queensland Parliament as Guest Speaker.

Leeanne, a Stradbroke Island woman, reflected on her father’s words about the beacons in the Bay that they used to mark their way home and how this analogy is reflective of her life’s journey into politics and how we all have our own beacons to follow. She also commended Billy Gordon an Indigenous man from North Queensland on his success in the winning the Seat of Cook.

Mr Gordon is the second Indigenous person to hold this seat. Mr Eric Deeral (deceased) of Hopevale won this seat in 1974. Mr Deeral sadly passed away in 2012, and although he was from the other side of politics, he surely would have been proud to see Billy elected. Leeanne stated that this stronger presence of Indigenous people in government will benefit and strengthen resolves for Indigenous issues in particular with the Stolen Wages issue.

Local Councillor Helen Abrahams a staunch support of Link-Up (Qld) was honoured and deeply touched to be invited as a Speaker to today’s Apology Event. She stated it was a privilege to be here and acknowledged standing on Aboriginal land. She acknowledged our Elders and the custodians of the land. Councillor Abrahams also talked about the importance of the venue, Jagara Arts Hall and its significance to local Indigenous people, acknowledging our Elders and country.

Councillor Abrahams went on to congratulate Leeanne Enoch and Billy Gordon on their election to the Queensland Parliament and proud that there is Indigenous representation in the State Parliament.

David Wragge from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse spoke and said “ the work Link-Up does is unbelievable. I’ve spoken to Link-Ups across Australia and it is important for us to have connections to families and country”. He added that the Royal Commission works very closely with Link-Up (Qld) and thanked Sam Watson and the Link-Up Board for their support and input.

The message from David about the Royal Commission is that no one is forced to come and talk, however they are interested to hear people’s stories.

Donna Hensen from ATSILS spoke passionately about our Elders and the amazing people they are. She spoke of the general warmth and comradery we have among our people, she stated in her address “White Australia doesn’t have that general loving compassion that we have among ourselves”. She continued, “I’m really sorry that they don’t understand just how deadly we are and how deadly our culture is”, and referring to the Murri School Dancers, she added, “I’m really sorry that White Australia doesn’t have those kind of connections where they see their children performing like that, the closest they get is sport.”

Donna thanked Link-Up for the amazing support they provide to our community.

Chairperson Sam Watson made a special presentation to Aunty Beverly Johnson which was a framed photograph of her with Dame Quentin Bryce taken at Sorry Day breakfast in May 2014. Sam described the photograph as one of the best magazine covers ever produced by Link-Up (Qld). He presented the beautifully framed photograph saying, “This is a gesture from the Board and staff of Link-Up (Qld) about how important you are to us”.

Link-Up (Qld) CEO Patricia Conlon welcoming everyone. A section of the large crowd that attended

David Wragge with Leeanne Enoch MP

Sam Watson with a presentation to Aunty Beverly Johnson

Ms Donna Hensen from ATSILS

Cr Helen Abrahams

Uncle Gerald Parker

Adrian Hepi and Billy Gorham

Dahla Cornforth

The Murri School Dancers


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Can’t Wait To Meet My BoyUncle Errol James spoke at the 7th Apology Anniversary hosted by Link-Up (Qld) at Jagera Community Hall.

In 1963 his son was wrongfully removed by the Queensland State government and eventually taken to Victoria. His son was two years old and he was told that Errol didn’t want him and couldn’t keep him.

“I fought tough and hard to find him”, Errol said, “and then someone said to go and see Link Up.”

Uncle Errol James became a client at Link-Up (Qld)in 2003. His case has been a long and complexjourney but Uncle has never given up hope.

Link-Up (Qld) assisted Uncle Errol to take his case to the Victorian County Court in 2012 and were successful in obtaining his son’s adopted name and identifying information which had previously been denied under Victorian legislation.

“I can’t thank Link-Up enough for what they’ve done. It changed my life completely.”

With this new information, the Link-Up (Qld) Research Team conducted searches far and wide in Queensland and Victoria, extending to other States and overseas to the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Link-Up (Qld) recently located Uncle Errol’s son living in a regional area of New Zealand. Uncle Errol excitedly awaits as arrangements are being made for a reunion in the coming months.

Uncle Errol with Research Manager, Ruth Loli

The 7th Apology Anniversary The Marie Reunion Story

My name is Marie. I have been a client with Link-Up for about 18 months. My mother was stolen along with her 3 brothers when she was 5. Two years after Mum and her brothers were taken, her parents had another girl who is the mother of my cousin.

The 13th December 2014 will remain one of the happiest days of my life. That was the day I was to meet my cousin for the first time.

My sister and I met with Aunty Margaret and Rhyll and started on our journey to the Bunya Mountains where we were to meet. I was feeling a lot of emotions. Excitement, nervousness and a little sadness that Mum wasn’t here to meet him.

The time had come. This was it. He pulled up in his car and when he got out I just knew he was going to be a nice man. I felt the connection instantly.

We spent the afternoon telling stories (he doesn’t mind a yarn!) and before we knew it, it was time to end the night but we arranged to meet again the following day and he was to bring his family as well.He arrived the next morning with his beautiful wife and

two lovely daughters. We enjoyed lunch together and lots more chatting and sharing photos. The afternoon passed by very quickly and it was time to say goodbye but we knew it wouldn’t be long before we would catch up again.

Thank you Rhyll and Aunty Margaret from myself and my family for finding the best cousin we could have asked for and the rainbow on the way home was Mum saying thank you as well.

Aunty Margaret is Margaret North, SEWB Counsellor and Rhyll Tonge, Research Officer at Link-Up (Qld)’s Brisbane office.

Marie with her sister Loretta and long lost cousin

The family reunion

Marie with her new nieces and Rhyll standing behind.Researcher Rhyll with Loretta and her newfound cousin

going through the family history.

Aunty Bev was overcome with emotion, however gained some composure to talk about the early days of getting Link-Up (Qld) off the ground and established.

Sam Watson described Aunty Bev and Dame Quentin Bryce as two amazing Ladies.

Our “Walking Proud” CD was officially then launched. A compilation of songs and poetry by our Stolen Generations clients from three Healing Camps. We acknowledge the National Stolen Generation Alliance and the Healing Foundation for their contribution to this project.

Candles were lit to commemorate the children who were taken away, whilst Aunty Bessie Peters and Aunty Rhonda Collard sang a traditional hymn in both English and traditional language.

Lenny Dahlen on the event, “Link-Up (Qld) is such a vital community organisation that coordinates and reunifies members of the Stolen Generations to reconnect to community, family, culture and spirit.”

Lenny Dahlen

Joe Stuurman


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and to keep moving forward. I recommend returning to the past, itemize, put into perspective and move on.

My people are scarred but not broken, may the Nyoongar people stay strong through education, knowledge, family, community and spirit.

Les Phillips

A very special thank you to:Margaret North (SEWB Counsellor) Link-Up QLD Mary Nannup (Senior Caseworker) Yorgum Aboriginal Corporation WA Rod Carpio – Autumn Centre WA My Partner And to all you deadly mob that assisted me in my journey...

Client Les Phillips enters Mogumber Shire

Mary Nannup at the “Aboriginal Name Wall” in New Norcia

Les with Link Up (Qld) SEWB Counsellor, Margaret North

Back to CountryIt has been approximately fourteen years since my last visit to WA however this reunion was based around healing and spirituality.

Very nervous prior to trip back over to country but having my caseworker and partner present in my opinion was an absolute necessity.

We first arrived and congregated at Perth meeting the Yorgum team; what a proactive and caring mob, including our guide who thoroughly covered our journey back through time and the relevant sightings we outlined in our itinerary such as; our base starting point Moora venturing onto Mogumber, New Norcia missions and directing the team and myself all back up country through Perenjori (my Grandmother’s and Mother’s land) then onto Three Springs where I was born.

Mogumber resting place was to say the least a very sad, emotional place, I could feel the presence of ancestral suppression, sadness and despair... very powerful and moving.When visiting Mogumber mission, having been confronted firstly with the thoughtless worded sign,

my memories are sparse as I must have locked alot away, small vivid capsules of time return as I worked my way through the old run down cottages and church. No good feelings and/or senses come to me.

Venturing onto New Norcia: Our guide softly speaks and capsulated on many memories of my mother and her own experiences that absolutely shocked myself and the team however, provided me with an understanding of my mother.

I now come from compassion instead of hatred toward my mother.

On the final day meeting up with kin some I had met before and others I hadn’t, was very rewarding also meeting up with a fellow/brother who shared my experience and has turned his life around rotating negative suppression into positive Nyoongar community pride. He was present at Mogumber mission when I was there. He talked of many memories however I don’t remember much at all.

My team have covered over and above what was itemized in which I am truly grateful however, I hope to return to Mogumber mission with my friend/brother from Mogumber mission and try to decipher good wholesome memories. He has shown me all is not lost

Client Les Phillips goes back to country

Les with his partner at Mogumber Mission

Les with Yorgum Caseworker, Mary Nannup

Visiting his birthplace, Three Springs WA


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Jason’s Journey

Jason Flavell’s spiritual journey began twenty-six years ago when he was twelve years old.

Jason was adopted into a non-Indigenous family. He applied for his adoption records when he was of age and discovered that the Aboriginality was on his birth father’s side. His birth mother, Chrissy Honan was non-Indigenous.

When Jason’s case was handed to me, I was a Caseworker, and it had been cold case for over twenty years.

On Jason’s adoption information, his birth father’s name was not recorded, only his birth mother’s name. The only option I had was to try to contact his birth mother, Chrissy.

A letter of establishment was posted to her to let her know that her birth son, Jason was searching for his Birth parents.

Birth father’s name – Louis Conlon who happens to be an Uncle to our CEO – Pat Conlon. What a coincidence! Once I started talking to Pat, she gave me the contact for Jason’s father, Louis, who lives in Cherbourg, to let him know that Jason had been searching for him.

A family reunion was then organised in Cherbourg with both birth parents attending. Link-Up (Qld) CEO, Pat Conlon and her family also attended this cultural event which was the first time for her to experience being a part of a reunion.

Margaret NorthLink-Up (Qld) SEWB Counsellor

Birth Parents Chrissy and Louie with son Jason

Father and Son meet at Cherbourg

Looking through photos and documents

Family reunion with Link-Up (Qld) CEO, Patricia Conlon

Taking time out to reflect on this important day

Invasion Day 2015Invasion Day is sometimes referred to as Survival Day and is held on what most Australians refer to as Australia Day, the 26th of January each year. The day commemorates the original invasion of the continent by the English colonisers, and the continued oppression of Aboriginal people since that time.

On a particularly hot day in Brisbane, 300 demonstrators gathered at Parliament House and marched through the city. Leading the way were the young people holding up large red, black and yellow flags. The loud strong chants of the demonstrators echoed off the buildings as they rallied across Grey Street Bridge.

At Southbank the rally stopped and Police lead a number of demonstrators away into a nearby building.

Protestors sat down on the road and footpaths waiting for the demonstrators to return. All the while the March Organisers handed out a multitude of water bottles to the protestors.

A loud cheer went out when Police escorted the demonstrators back to the crowd and the rally continued.

A line of Police waited further up the road as demonstrators made their way to Musgrave Park for a Smoking Ceremony and refreshments at Jagera Community Hall.


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Wayne “Coco” Wharton paid his respect to the Turrubul and the Yuggera people. Wayne comes from the other side of the Ranges, the Western Country but said he always paid his respect to the Traditional Owners of the land that they meet on.

“You don’t have to be a blackfella to practice this, but you new arrivals, you people that call Brisbane home, you can acknowledge the people that lived here before, that owned this country.” Wayne stated. Adding that racism, prejudice and ignorance were economic tools used by the dominant society to advance their wealth.

He remarked that the Police with their guns and tasers were always present at Aboriginal protests just like the troopers were there 160 years ago when they publicly hung Dundalli in this area where now stands Post Office Square.

“Don’t believe for one minute that the war for this place didn’t take place.”

“If I step out of line here, I’m not charged as an Aboriginal protester, a black man defending his country or his family’s rights, I’m charged as a criminal by these fellas and you judge me on the six o’clock news as a criminal.” Coco stressed.

Dundalli RemembranceDundalli was the last Indigenous person to be executed in Queensland under British Law. He was a warrior from Blackbutt who came to Brisbane (Meginchin – Meeanjin) and united the tribes from Brisbane down to the Tweed to Kamilaroi and out to Goondiwindi to lead a resistance against the British Invasion.

After a long campaign, he was captured by Police and Wumbungar, a Turrbul black tracker employed by the Police. He was found guilty of two counts of murder and one of robbery with violence and was sentenced to be publicly hanged on the 5th January 1855 in gallows constructed where now stands Post Office Square.

Dundalli’s actions were consequential to Aboriginal Lore whereby the killing of settlers, spearing their stock and confiscating material property satisfied the concept of payback and reciprocity. He was fulfilling his role as a leader within a warrior society whereby “warfare is that of reciprocity”, if a harm is done to an individual or group, then they must repay by an injury that at least equals the one they had suffered.

Sam Watson said “Here in a major community like Brisbane, there is no place where Aboriginal people can go and give honour to our great heroes.”

Four years ago, Sam met with then Premier Campbell Newman about building a monument and placing it in Post Office Square where people would come to know just how important Dundalli was. But as with so many white fella policies… it never happened.

Sam explained that Dundalli was not a criminal. He was called forward by his Elders, by his leaders and charged with the responsibility of saving the country, save the lands, to maintain our sacred traditions. The entire conduct of the process speaks so much about the importance of our LORE.

“There was no peaceful process, it took four decades of struggle by the invading Europeans to subdue and secure this area. Our people fought with weapons of wood against horses, the Martini Henry rifle, against a terrible violence they’d never encountered before. They stood up for country and paid for it with their lives.” Sam added.

Sam Watson at the Dundalli Commemoration

Wayne “Coco” Wharton

People voiced their thoughts after the speeches.


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Thousands of Indigenous Queenslanders including from the Torres Straits are still owed ‘stolen wages’ by the State Government.

For almost 70 years from 1904, the wages and savings of Indigenous workers – estimated at around $500 million – were forcibly controlled by successive State Governments.

Indigenous Elders and union leaders gathered in Brisbane in late January to to offer support to Queensland Labor’s pledge to repay money owed to Indigenous Queenslanders. The ALP announced a proposal for a $21 million dollar fund.

The theft of Indigenous worker’s wages is a blemish on Queensland’s past.

The pledge commits to:

• Reopen the Stolen Wages Reparation Fund so it can meets its original intent

• Adopt a fair and reasonable approach to the depth of evidence and onus of proof required by claimants to support applications.

Pledge to Stolen Wages Justice Link Up Regionals Update

Ronald Ah Wang, Tammy Murray and Gavin Pryor from Lotus Place

Townsville Caseworker Vicky Darr met with a number of organisations throughout Townsville, Charters Towers, the Burdekin and Palm Island including Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS), Jupiter Mossman, the Kalgan Early Learning Centre and visited people at Burdel Home and the Community Care office.

A highlight for Vicki was the ferry trip to Palm Island where she met up with locals. Vicki Darr collaborated with Relationships Australia Queensland (RAQ) and contributed toward their successful day by ensuring the “Walking Proud” CDs were available.

RAQ acknowledges the importance for Indigenous people to commemorate The Apology. Carol Kahn (Townsville manager) stated “I was so pleased RAQ could host this important community commemoration”. The event screened “Cry from the Heart” a documentary about Stolen Generations.

Approximately 40 government & non-government organisations attended as well as community members. After the film a young non-Indigenous worker asked, “What’s the solution -there is no solution?” to which Philip Obah (Wadja) answered “We have the solution but you (the government) won’t listen to us ... the system does not work for us...“

Faye Gee-Hoy, Genus Passi with Vicky Darr

Fay Gee-Hoy said “It is painful for our people to retell and relive these stories over and over again but it is also very important that we never forget the terrible trauma, grief and loss experienced through forced separation. We need to dwell on the past, occasionally, because it helps explain to the ignorant, why we are still suffering today. It’s great to have Link-Up (Qld) here.”

Townsville Office

Mt Isa Office

Cairns Office

In Mt Isa, Caseworker Bethel Clay has been out promoting Link-Up (Qld). “There has been lots of Community Engagements” and handing out the Walking Proud CD. She has visited Gidgee Healing, KASH, the Red Cross Rehabilitation Centre, Department of Community Housing and Homeless Services, Nawamba House - a safe house for women and children, Jimaylya Topsy Harry Centre – an adult Homeless Centre, Injilinji Respite Centre, Ngurri Ngurri Female Shelter, Kalkadoon Aboriginal Corporation and held a “Community Day.”

Cairns Link-Up (Qld) Counsellor, Toni Murphy and Link-Up (Qld) Royal Commission Specialist Support Counsellor, Gordon Glenbar met with other Support Agencies to hold information sessions into the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse at Kuranda Respite Services HAAC Hall. Ngoonbi Cooperative Society Ltd., Kuranda Respite Services Staff and Kuranda Elders attended.

The next day they visited the Mossman Outreach where they met with Goobidi Bamanga Co-op Society Ltd, Housing Society; Family Support Service and HAAC Service as well as the Mossman Elders Justice Group.

Bob Anderson and Ron Monaghan


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Lenore Aldred and her family arrived early and arranged beautiful fresh flowers as centre pieces on the Christmas dining tables.

Lenore had kindly created and donated the feature floral arrangements from her garden. This was the first time we had received floral arrangements and the setting was beautiful. The fragrances lingered in the room and the smiles on our clients’ faces when they saw how special the room looked was very rewarding.

We cannot thank her enough for the beautiful arrangements. Thank you Lenore. It is not surprising that all of the arrangements found their way home with the clients.

Lost Mother

The land is my lost motherI yearn to know and seeI slowly walk timidly into her armsShe caresses and nurtures meHer beautiful fragrance and songsWash over me giving me fresh dreamsFilling the emptiness replacing my worthSadness and pain buried deep in the earthShe whispers and tells me that here I belongLet you spirit be free let your spirit be strongThis land is yours as far as the eyes can seeIt flows in your blood right down to the seaMy spiritual totem she reveals to meEmotions of peace feelings of belongingHer gentle soft tears, drops from the skyShe is happy for she has foundHer beautiful precious lost childby Rhonda Collard-Sprat

Thank You Lenore

Client Christmas PartyThe Annual Clients’ Christmas Luncheon was held on Friday, 12 December at the Link-Up (Qld) Brisbane office. Staff worked hard to set up and decorate the room for the clients.

Link-Up (Qld) Board of Directors and CEO Patricia Conlon welcomed the 60 guests and thanked the staff for their work efforts throughout the year. Stolen Generations Clients and their families were treated to a wonderfully catered buffet-styled Christmas meal and given presents which included a copy of the Link-Up (Qld) Music Therapy CD “Walking Proud” funded by the Healing Foundation.

It was a great opportunity to catch up, share a yarn and have a laugh together. In this relaxed atmosphere the guitars and ukuleles came out and all joined in singing Christmas carols and popular sing-alongs led by clients Stephen Hart, Bessie Peters and Getano Bann.

Lenore and family

The Christmas Buffet Chris Lee

Aunty Alzira Conlon, Aunty Annette Daisy Uncle Louis Conlon, Aunty Estelle Sandow and Aunty Melita Orcher

Uncles Errol James and Louis Conlon

Faith Carr and Geraldine Ives

Sam Watson and Kenneth Murphy

Marie Gilliland and Aunty Ruby Sims

Lenny Utz and Aunty Cathy Watson

Jennifer and Stephen Hart

Clients caught up in the Christmas atmosphere


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We would like to welcome our new staff members who have joined the Link-Up (Qld) family. Welcome Townsville Caseworker, Vicki Darr; Brisbane Caseworker Kim Law; Admin Assistant Sandy Boyd; Finance Officer Cheryl Page and SEWB Counsellor Florence Ash.

Link-Up (Qld) Specialist Support Counsellor for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is Gordon Glenbar. His role is to provide support and assistance to people who have suffered sexual abuse in institutions and assist individuals as they participate in the Commission’s ongoing inquiries.

Link-Up (Qld) Staff Movements

Kim Law

Cheryl Page

Vicki Darr

Sandy Boyd

Gordon Glenbar

Florence Ash

Want to make a Donation to Link-Up (Qld)?

Mens Group Meetings

“Walking Proud” CD Launch

Client Support Group 2015 Morning Teas

If you are interested in supporting Link-Up (Qld), all donations are tax deductible and can be made to:-

A/c: Link-Up (Qld) Aboriginal CorporationABN: 36 073 956 496Bank: WestpacBSB: 034 013A/c No.: 277 709

Please send all cheques to PO Box 3229, South Brisbane Q 4101

Become a Link-Up (Qld) MemberThe benefits of membership include the ability to

utilise your own talents, skills and expertise as a volunteer, receive updates and

bi-monthly newsletters, voting at general elections, being a part of the solution in terms of

righting the wrongs and having your say in the way Link-Up (Qld) Aboriginal Corporation operates.

Go to http://www.link-upqld.org.au/ and download the Membership form.

Held on the last Thursday of every month at the Link Up (Qld) Brisbane office

from 10.00am.Contact Link-Up (Qld) on 07 3034 8444 for more information. Next meeting will be on:

26th March30th April28th May 25th June31st July

The Mens’ Group will be meeting up at the 139 Club Inc. located at 505 Brunswick Street Fortitude Valley to openly discuss any current issues that you or other men are experiencing right now.

These meeting will commence at 11.00am on Thursdays and will be up and running from the 19 March 2015.

Feel free to join in the conversations or just listen.

A free lunch is provided.

Link-Up (Qld) used their Apology Celebrations to launch their 16 track CD, “Walking Proud”.

This CD was produced in-house with songs and stories derived from and written by our Stolen Generations clients at Healing Camp Music

Therapy workshops held at Kindilan’s Reserve, Redlands; the Conference and Convention Centre, Mount Tamborine and Genazzano Conference Centre, Yungaburra. We would like to acknowledge and thank the Healing Foundation for their support and funding of the Music Therapy Project.

Holy Cross Industrial School

Young girls were placed into places such as the infamous Magdalene Asylums throughout Australia and the “Holy Cross Industrial School for Girls” at Wooloowin is an example. The average age of the girls in this institution ranged from 14-16yrs.

This was a breach of the Queensland Children’s Services Act 1965 sec 110. 111, and according to the Queensland Department of Child Safety, there were no provisions for wages from girls under “care and control”.

They were forced to work in the laundry, and a refusal to do so resulted in the girls being kept in solitary confinement, whipped with feather dusters or being sent to Karalla House, a maximum security reform home.

The ‘reward’ for working in the laundry was 30 cents worth of sweets on a Friday and a movie night but any misbehaviour by the girls saw these privileges removed.

The girls in the photo were among some of the Aboriginal girls I befriended whilst in the home. I lost track of them after I left as we were not allowed to keep in contact with each other.

The photos were taken in October 1967 .

Lily Arthur Co-chair National Stolen Generations Alliance

Coordinator Origins Supporting People Separated by Adoption Ph 02 97257723

Mob 0411 164964 Email [email protected]

Link-Up (Qld) ABORIGINAL CORPORATION

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About Link-Up (Qld)-Our Mission-

Link-Up (Qld) Aboriginal Corporation supports the healing journeys of

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people who have been separated from their families and

cultures through forced removal, fostering, adoption and/or institutionalisation.

We deliver professional, culturally sensitiveand confidential research, reunion

and cultural wellbeing services.

Link-Up (Qld) Aboriginal Corporation Caseworkersand Counsellors are experienced individuals

who can assist in reunitingAboriginal & Torres Strait Islander families.

We also provide a referral service to the appropriate organisation orGovernment Department.

Still Bringing Them Home

Link-Up (QLD) ABORIGINAL CORPORATION OFFICES

BRISBANE:5 Reid Street WOOLLOONGABBA Q 4102PO Box 3229 SOUTH BRISBANE Q 4101Email: [email protected]: (07) 32034 8444 Fax: (07) 3217 3458

MOUNT ISA:1/81 Miles Street MOUNT ISA Q 4825PO Box 296 MT ISA DC Q 4825 Tel: (07) 4743 9371

CAIRNS:18 Scott Street PARRAMATTA PARK, CAIRNS 4870PO Box 298 BUNGALOW Q 4870Tel: (07) 4041 7403Fax: (07) 4027 9665

TOWNSVILLE:c/- Relationships Australia745 Riverway Drive THURINGOWA CENTRAL Q 4817PO Box 247 THURINGOWA CENTRAL Q 4817 Tel: (07) 4755 4958

Quick Facts

h Link-Up is a FREE service

h We offer support before, during and after your family reunion

h We respect your privacy and treat all information confidentially

h Link-Up (Qld) runs a range of healing activities; camps, support groups, art, craft and music workshops

h We offer cultural renewal activities and support return to country

Upcoming Events

� Sorry Day Breakfast in Orleigh Park � NAIDOC Celebrations 10 July 2015 � Link-Up (Qld) 30 Years Celebration

FREECALL TO ALL OFFICES 1800 200 855 from landlines

DISCLAIMER: Whilst every effort has been made to respect cultural traditions, Indigenous readers are

advised that this publication may contain images of people who are deceased.

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